The American Gem Society held its inaugural Circle of Distinction Dinner Nov. 13, 2000, at the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. The event launched AGS’s “Partnership for Excellence” capital campaign for the expansion of the AGS campus in Las Vegas.

Campaign co-chairs Georgie Gleim, CG, and Marc Green, CGA, announced initial demonstration gifts amounting to $1.5 million of the $4 million goal. Individuals and firms contributing more than $50,000 were named to the AGS Circle of Distinction and will receive prominent recognition at the new campus. Circle of Distinction honorees were, at the Ambassador level (gifts of more than $250,000), Tom Gorman, Keppie-Kiger, and Glenn Rothman, Hearts on Fire. Honorees at the Regent level (gifts of more than $100,000) were Georgie Gleim, Gleim the Jeweler; Ron Harder, Jewelers Mutual Insurance; Howard Herzog, International Jewelers Block Insurance; and Kikuichiro Ishii, Mikimoto America. Honorees at the Governor level (gifts of more than $50,000) were Herb Bridge, Ben Bridge Jeweler; Tom Chatham, Chatham Created Gems; Marion Halfacre, Traditional Jewelers; Carter Hofmeister, Hofmeister Personal Jewelers, and Mark Moeller, R.F. Moeller Jeweler.